Courtside Club with Rachel DeMita

The WNBA is about to look completely different... and it all starts with the new CBA. In this episode of Courtside Club, Rachel DeMita breaks down how the updated salary structure is going to reshape the entire league. With over 100 free agents and new rules allowing players to earn max and supermax contracts earlier, teams are about to face some tough decisions. What does this mean for the Indiana Fever? Can they realistically keep Caitlin Clark, Aaliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell together? And why letting stars take pay cuts could actually hurt the league long-term? This is more than just contracts — this is about how the WNBA builds superstars, markets its biggest names, and grows the game moving forward. Rachel DeMita breaks down the NBA MVP race after Victor Wembanyama made his case following a big Spurs win — and why his comments have sparked major debate across media and fans. She dives into why Wemby’s defensive dominance and overall impact go far beyond the box score, and how the San Antonio Spurs have exceeded expectations this season. Rachel also calls out the media for getting it wrong all year, from narratives around Wemby to the lack of respect for Luka Dončić, while breaking down the full MVP field including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić. Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchC Apple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/ TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademita TWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita

Team USA and Caitlin Clark keep blowing everybody out, but the biggest takeaway from this tournament goes way beyond the final scores. In this episode, Rachel DeMita breaks down what we’ve learned through four games, why Caitlin Clark’s first start mattered so much, and what the numbers are saying about her impact on the floor. From plus-minus and efficiency to the way defenses completely change when she checks in, this video looks at why Caitlin continues to shift the game even when the box score doesn’t tell the full story. Rachel also dives into the emergence of the young core of Team USA with Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese, why that trio feels like the future of both Team USA and the WNBA, Monique Billings’ surprising impact, the ongoing conversation around Caitlin’s role, the FIBA officiating difference, the “travel” debate from Caitlin’s logo three, and the wild fan voting chaos around the MVP poll. VOTE: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-2026-qualifying-tournament-san-juan-puerto-rico/news/vote-who-has-been-the-mvp-in-san-juan Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchC Apple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/ TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademita TWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita

Rachel DeMita breaks down another chaotic day in the WNBA as the league heads toward the March 10 CBA deadline while Team USA prepares for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. She talks about TNT picking up the broadcast rights, why Caitlin Clark’s Team USA debut is such a big moment, and why fans will inevitably compare those ratings to Unrivaled. Rachel also explains why she has stayed away from covering Unrivaled this season, how the league became wrapped up in the WNBA labor fight, and why she believes the WNBA still has to remain the premier destination for women’s basketball. She also reacts to Aaliyah Boston and Sonia Citron missing the tournament after injuries, what that could mean in a new max-contract era, and why offseason leagues may become a bigger issue for teams and owners moving forward. On top of that, she touches on the reported Arike Ogunbowale incident at an Unrivaled celebration, the latest signs that players still have not submitted a counterproposal, and the leaked WNBPA survey that continues to raise more questions than answers. It’s another episode full of WNBA storylines, CBA tension, Team USA talk, and the growing feeling that all of this is reaching a breaking point. CAITLIN CLARK IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER. We need to talk about Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.. Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchC Apple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/ TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademita TWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita

The WNBA CBA negotiations just got even messier. After the leaked letter from Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart, the WNBPA went into full damage-control mode…statements, interviews, and push-polling controversy that only raises more questions. Rachel DeMita breaks down the union’s response, the reporting around who leaked the letter, why some players may actually want a strike, and how this chaos could impact the 2026 season, expansion teams, and roster planning. Plus: Charles Barkley’s blunt warning about “overplaying your hand,” and why the league’s silence might be the most telling part of all. The WNBA CBA deadline has officially arrived, and yet there’s still no clear resolution. In this episode of Courtside Club, Rachel DeMita breaks down the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations between the WNBA and the players as the March 10 deadline looms with uncertainty. Despite months of discussions, reports indicate that the players and owners only recently exchanged new proposals over the weekend, and very few details have been made public. With an in-person meeting reportedly happening today, questions remain about why negotiations are coming down to the final hours and whether a deal will actually be reached before the upcoming season... The WNBA CBA deadline has officially come and gone... and no deal was made. Rachel DeMita breaks down the talks that went to the 11th hour last night and the biggest problem nobody is talking about: that nobody cares!! Are we getting a WNBA season or is it cooked? Let us know what you guys think in the comments! Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchC Apple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/ TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademita TWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita

The WNBA’s CBA negotiations just hit a critical point and the agents are officially involved. In this episode of Courtside Club, Rachel DeMita breaks down why agent coordination with the WNBPA is a major development, what it signals about internal divisions among players, and how close the league really is to a potential strike. With new reporting from Annie Costabile and Alexa Philippou, the picture is becoming clearer: not all players agree on the path forward, and the March 10 deadline is forcing tough conversations. Rachel walks through: - Why agents stepping in could shift the power dynamic - How strike authorization votes may be changing behind the scenes - The growing divide between star players and middle-to-lower tier players - Why a deal as it currently stands would still represent a major win for players - A realistic timeline of what the 2025 WNBA season looks like if a deal gets done She also explains why public narratives around “unity” don’t always match what’s happening internally and why debate doesn’t necessarily mean dysfunction, but it does raise real concerns with the season now just weeks away. The basketball is trending in the right direction. The question is whether the league and the players can close this gap in time to protect the momentum. With the March 10 deadline looming, the WNBA and WNBPA are in true crunch time, but the biggest issues still aren’t moving: gross vs. net revenue sharing and a salary cap gap that’s miles apart. Rachel breaks down the latest counteroffers, why “small wins” like housing don’t solve the real standoff, and the one new proposal detail that could change everything: a path for certain rookie-contract stars to become max-eligible earlier. That wrinkle throws gasoline on the Fever’s future money decisions, raises the stakes for short, chaotic free agency, and puts expansion teams in a tough spot. She also dives into the growing public split in player messaging (from “no strike” to “hold the line”), plus the bigger conversation around the league’s new wave of fans, and why the product has to be strong enough to keep them. Rachel DeMita breaks down why the “Euro takeover” narrative has snowballed, how international success is being framed by NBA media, and why global growth doesn’t automatically mean American players are being left behind. Drawing from firsthand experience watching EuroLeague basketball, NBA trends, and player development on both sides of the world, she explains where the conversation has gone sideways.. and where it’s actually worth having. The NBA is expanding globally, the talent pool is deeper than ever, and the basketball product itself is in a really interesting place right now. This isn’t about tearing anything down.. it’s about understanding what’s really happening instead of reacting to the narratives pushed by talking heads. The NBA media has gone too far with their coverage of the Lakers and blatant slander of superstar Luka Doncic. Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchC Apple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/ TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademita TWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita